Casual Conversation #7

Chatting with Lorraine Carey

Today I have my friend the lovely Lorraine Kolmacic-Carey here to chat. Lorraine, please start us off by giving us a little introduction.

Thank you for this opportunity, Cindy Smith. I have moved across quite a few states during the last thirty years as my husband had several job transfers. Being a teacher I had to get certified in each state to enable me to teach. I was getting used to being the “new kid on the block”, so to speak.

I have two married daughters and three lovely grandchildren—all boys

I have moved around a lot in my adult years also. It can be challenging being the "new kid". With all the moving, when did you find the time to begin writing?

The last nine years my husband and I lived on the island of Grand Cayman. He was working and I was . . . well, playing tourist you could say. It was exciting, nonetheless. This had given me the springboard to start my writing career. The island lifestyle did provide much inspiration for writing. I started off with a memoir and went on to write a Young Adult novel about a shipwreck that actually happened on the island some two hundred years ago. I added a paranormal theme to it and a Canadian publisher picked it up back in 2012. It won the Silver Award from Readers Favorite and was a finalist in the Wind Dancer Film Contest.

Since then I had self-published three more paranormal novels for young adults, one educational, two erotica books, and two paranormal books for adult readers in a trilogy. I am currently working on that last book in my trilogy.

Once you started writing you really took off!  Jonathan's Locket was the first of your books I read, it was very interesting. I loved how you shared the origins of the curse.  To be honest I have not read your erotica books.  That is just not my cup of tea anymore.

You have such amazing accomplishments and such a wide assortment of genres. Having read a lot of your books,  paranormal seems to be something you go back to a lot. Is there a reason for that?

 I have a passion for the paranormal with having so many paranormal experiences throughout my lifetime—ones I still can’t explain. I have been on several ghost tours and have witnessed strange occurrences. Most of my books are based on a real urban legend or an experience from my own life.

As of current, I have moved back to the states and living in St. Petersburg, Florida with my husband. Moving took quite a toll on my writing time. It was only in the last couple of months that I have been working with full force to finish my works in progress. And as far as the paranormal occurrences—they seem to have followed me to Florida as well.

I am patiently awaiting the final book in your Women of The Willow Wood series. The first two were awesome. 

Besides writing, how else have you been spending your time?






I found that I needed some breaks from sitting at the computer everyday, so I have begun to substitute teach here in St. Petersburg. This has proven to be quite interesting and may lead to a new book within itself.
 
My favorite hobbies are reading, shopping, working out at the gym, and long walks.
 
And don’t let me forget to tell you that turquoise is my favorite color. Cindy wanted me to make that known. I think that stems from the five years I lived in New Mexico.

I lived in St. Pete off and on for 20 years, met both my ex and present husband there.  Strange how many of my friends are moving there when I am no longer able to meet them.

Your teaching has led you to offer some interesting assistance to other authors. One that I noticed recently is your idea to help readers get more out of what they are reading. What helped you come up with a way to make reading a book more interactive? And why do you think it is important? 


Being a Reading Specialist I am aware of the comprehension gaps with literacy in the primary grades through high school. I’ve designed programs to address this, provided instruction as well as staff development sessions.

So with that, I have a service where I create a custom-made literacy packet for children’s authors, which is a great bonus to them. It makes their book more attractive to educators. The literacy kit is designed to include concepts that are on standardized tests. Now with that I do know other authors of adult books will feature a set of questions at the end of the book for book club purposes.

One of the books with her literacy kit

It amazes me how illiteracy is becoming more prevalent.  People are too willing to get up in arms about story lines, like the Harry Potter books, and forget about the importance of reading and imagination.

I, for one, appreciate your willingness to share your experience with the rest of the writing world.

In your own books, your beautiful imagery makes everything so vivid in my mind.  I was especially taken with your books, Beloved Sacrifice and The Last Vestal Virgin. Both deal with ancient curses and a religious cults.  Your descriptions of the landscape and town had me thinking I was actually there.  Have you actually visited Italy?  

 I had visited Italy about five years ago. I went to Pacentro, which was a small village about 110 miles east of Rome. It is where my mother’s family came from. It is also touted as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. My husband and I had both encountered a few paranormal experiences there. Like he said, “I guess your relatives don’t want you to leave this place.” We are planning a trip back soon.

So wonderful to be able to travel like that, my traveling is done by others, I just talk them into not exchanging all their foreign money so I can buy it from them and fantasize.

Your husband sounds very supportive of you.  What a blessing that you both experienced paranormal events and were able to share them.

Is there any place in the world you would really like to see but have never been? Maybe some fodder for a new series?

Yes! Ireland and Scotland are on my list. I’d love to take the castle tour. My daughter and her husband spent the night in what was supposedly a haunted room at one of the old castles. I’m sure I’d find something there to stir the imagination—I always do.

Lorraine's Erotica Book

 Some of your books are Erotica and others Young Adult.  Your attention to detail in both is wonderful.  Do you intend to continue writing in both genres?  planning to try a new one?

Lorraine's Erotica Book

 I am planning on mostly sticking to Paranormal thrillers or thrillers in general. I’ve been told Young Adult is a dying genre, and it’s too bad because I initially set out to reach those readers in general. I do have a new thriller in the hopper to start after I complete Last Rites, which is the last book to my Women of the Willow Wood Trilogy.

I love that series, as you well know!  The first two books are amazing I am certain the final book will be fantastic! I understand the covers are revamped for the first two as well.  Can we see them, and maybe get a little teaser?

 Sure.  Erika Szabo of Golden Box Books Publishing created the new covers.

Brandt is being tricked into joining Heaven’s Gate, which is an evil and powerful underground cult.  ***There is some adult language.***

Chapter 27

Brandt~
I tried to focus my eyes. Everything was gray—blurry. What the fuck? A shadowy figure was coming closer. I sat up as my eyes cleared, realizing this figure was Gorman. “Did you have a nice nap, Meade?” Gorman stood over me.

“What the hell happened last night? Who—”

“Did you really think for one minute you could outsmart a Grand Master, let alone one of our high priests and master alchemist?”

“I was drugged! Damn you! What did you give me?”

“Just a yummy cocktail of Midazolam and a few other natural herbs.

Your little scheme was thwarted as soon as it became a thought. And to think we owe if all to Drake Larson. You recognize the name, don’t you?”

I was still woozy from the drug but hearing his name had me snapping back to reality. Drake? Drake Larson? What the fuck? How did I let myself be deceived?

“Let me help you over to the chair. You need to hydrate too.” Gorman lent me his hand.

I pushed his hand away. “I need to get as far away from here as possible!”

I tried to stand but was still a bit dizzy. I had to sit—to think.

I made it over to the chair by Gorman’s desk. He handed me a glass of water. My throat was parched. I knew it was one of the effects of the drug.  I downed the water, my eyes scanning the room. No sign of Cox or Fuller. I inhaled a deep breath. Gorman was sitting back in his chair, his hands folded in his lap.

I had questions—lots of them. “So, where’s my black bag?”

“It’s in the storage room in the basement along with my other toys.”

“And the tablet. You have—”

“Yes, it’s in safe keeping. Don’t you worry your pretty little head over it.”

“And Drake? Tell me. Why is he involved in this?” I set my glass down.

“Larson is the head priest for Heaven’s Gate. He’s been flying under the radar for some time. He was lured in years ago with the promise of early retirement, power and wealth beyond his means.”

So now everything was coming into view. It made sense now; the house in Florida, his interest in Dani and his eagerness to set me up in his cottage. Fuck. Me. Now.

I had to get a grip—had to have a new plan. Things were changing fast. I tried to stand and was still a bit wobbly on my feet.

“Sit down Meade.” Gorman poured me another glass of water. Mario had come in with a plate of sandwiches. Gorman reached for one, took a bite and set it down. “Listen Meade, the final days are upon us. I’m sure you’ve heard that the Antichrist is here and there are many who have already appeared. From this we know that the last hours are coming.”

“1John 2:18 NLT. You are quoting scripture, I see.” My tongue was burning. He may just be one of the antichrists. “Just how does this affect me?”

“You have a chance for salvation—redemption. I’m giving you this chance. Heaven’s Gate is the only way—and for all of us.”

Was he kidding? I had to think about this one. Shades of the days I worked for Frank Darello ran through my mind. All those people who had believed Jim Jones back in 1978 never found redemption. I’m sure Gorman had already been serving up his own Kool-Aid. I was in too deep to run. With Drake now in the equation I had to plan this one out. All I could see was Dani’s face. I had to save her, no matter what.

Gorman pushed the plate closer to me. “Have some nourishment, Meade. You’re gonna need it.”

My stomach rumbled. I took a few bites and waited for Gorman to speak. The bread went down like hard lumps of clay.

“We know about Dani. We know she’s with you. We are offering you a position as a Grand Master. You and Dani will be safe with us. You’ll never have to worry about money again.”

My eyes bore into his. “I’m in shock. I can’t—”

“I think you can, Meade. If you decide not to cooperate, we will be forced to kill Dani. You will accompany us to Cayman Brac next week where you will be inducted into the ministry for Heaven’s Gate. It is an honor.”

I had to ask, “Will Drake be there?”

“Of course. He’ll be leading the ritual.”

It was far too much to take in. I had to get home—to think. This was truly a game changer for me and for Dani.

Gorman stood up. “Go home Meade. Make love to your woman. Prepare to leave next Friday for the Caymans.”

My balance had steadied as I walked toward the door. I turned to reply to Gorman but somehow I had no words. A storm was coming. The only thing on my mind was to get home and make plans to weather this one out. We had to get out of that cottage. I had to face Dani and tell her the truth—or maybe she already knew.


Those covers are gorgeous!  The teaser, wow, now my patience is really being stretched! 

I found all your paranormal thrillers are exciting.  Will you be keeping with your themes of curses and fulfilling destiny?  or will you change and incorporate more ghostly characters?


I will be focusing more on possession especially dealing with a Succubus. I have a romantic ghost story on the hopper as well.
It may be co-authored with another author who specializes in westerns. Don’t want to give away too many spoilers here

Succubus sounds like a great topic!  These sound like they will be amazing.  I want to thank you for being so open with me here.  It has been fun.  Please share some links where everyone can find you. 


Thank you!!!

Find Lorraine at:

 www.lorrainecarey.com
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/StorySpirit4U/
Amazon Page  https://www.amazon.com/Lorraine-Carey/e/B00ELQBUHQ
Twitter @StorySpirit4U

Casual Conversation #6

Visiting with Deanie Humphrys-Dunne

Today I will be chatting with Deanie Humphrys-Dunne who writes children's books. Hello, Deanie, I would like to begin by having you tell us all a little about yourself as a way of introduction.

 
Hi Cindy, Thank you for inviting me.
I grew up on my parents' riding school called Sweetbrier and horses changed my life in amazing ways.(detailed in my book "My Life at Sweetbrier.)
When my dad was told I would never walk, he wouldn't accept that.He was determined to help me realize my dream of becoming an equestrian champion, against the odds.

Cover by Holly Humphrys-Bajaj

I've been a children's author since 2009, when my first book, "Tails of Sweetbrier" was released.  Although that book is no longer in print, we have an updated, expanded version called "My Life at Sweetbrier". It's the winner of the Mom's Choice gold medal, among others.
 

Cover by Holly Humphrys-Bajaj

In addition, we have published 4 other early chapter books; Charlie the Horse, Charlene the Star, "Charlene the Star and Hatties' Heroes," and "Charlene the Star and Bentley Bulldog." All of the fictional books are beautifully illustrated by my sister, Holly Humphrys-Bajaj.She and I love working together and we are in the process of finishing our first picture book.

Aside from writing, I love spending time with my family, watching equestrian events, and baseball games, as well as music and singing.

ILLUSTRATIONS:

Artist:  Holly Humphrys-Bajaj

Bentley Bulldog and Hattie the chicken from Charlene the Star and Bentley Bulldog

Hattie the chicken and Elliott from Charlene the Star and Hattie's Heroes

Artist:  Holly Humphrys-Bajaj

Mary and Charlene from Charlene the Star

Artist:  Holly Humphrys-Bajaj

I was going to ask you about the horses! Your sister's illustrations are wonderful!  So nice to have family support in artistic endeavors.  My sister was my editor for my first 4 poetry books and my children's books.

I don't have young ones so I have not read your books.  I just used the "Look Inside" feature on Amazon.  You seem to have a way of teaching through animals. Is that because horses were such an important part of your growing up?

Will your picture book also use animals as the main characters?

Thank you for your compliments on Holly's illustrations. She is an extraordinary talent and I love working with her.

Yes, I would say partially because many children love horses and animals.I thought it would be fun to have the animals narrate the stories. But more importantly, horses played a huge role in my childhood and my dream of becoming an equestrian champion. Horses actually changed my life because doctors said  I would never walk but that was not acceptable. My dad declared he would teach me to ride and I would be fine.
 
As you might imagine, my dad was a very determined person. He never accepted anything as fact if he felt it could be changed. We teamed up and set out to prove the doctors wrong. Eventually, doctors determined I had cerebral palsy, which affected walking. Riding horses strengthened my legs so I could walk and I won many championships with an extraordinary horse my dad bought for me named Fleet Nancy AKA Peach. Now you can see the effect horses had on my life.
Our picture book will be about a little tractor named Wilbur, who is the main character, but he will meet animals in the story. We are planning to have at least two books in the series about Wilbur.

Wilbur sounds like it will be an adorable series!  I am sure a tractor can have lots of adventures out in the fields.  It is a blessing you had a father who was so determined.  What amazing accomplishments!  Congrats!

Do your children enjoy your books?  Do they offer you ideas on what your next book should be about? Or make any other suggestions?

Thank you for the compliments on my accomplishments,but I don't think I've done anything extraordinary. My parents encouraged each of their children to persevere and never give up on their dreams. In fact our family motto was "The Humphrys don't give up." All I've done is keep that in mind.

We are hoping Wilbur will be fun for children. Generally, girls are more often interested in horses so Wilbur should interest little boys too. The first book will be about Wilbur's routine with his friend, Jim. My children do offer ideas for my books, as does my husband. They have good imaginations. My sister Holly, gives me ideas as well. I love the fact we all are involved in the process of writing children's books. Our goal is to have each book inspire children to work hard, set goals and follow their dreams because many things can be changed if you persevere.  

It is awesome that your whole family is involved.  I know my daughter's input always meant a lot to me. 

I am sure both boys and girls will enjoy the adventures of Wilbur.

Is there any certain children's author who instilled the desire in you to write in this genre?

No, I don't think so, although I have always enjoyed reading. My parents were the first to suggest I write for children, but I thought it was a ridiculous idea. But once I had the confidence to publish my first book, I thought it was fun.

I am sure children everywhere are glad you did! I am sure they are going to love your books about Wilbur the tractor.  I have enjoyed chatting with you. Before you go, could you share some links so everyone can find you?

Thank you for everything. I hope you enjoyed our interview as much as I did. On May26th,  I celebrated that Sweetbrier is #94 in children's horse books on Amazon!! 

Where to find Deanie:

Banner is by Rhonda Patton

 www.childrensbookswithlifelessons.com/

Book2Look:

https://www.book2look.com/book/q58fhR8ly3

Amazon author page:

http://www.bit.ly/DHDbooks    

The Making of Casual Conversations

How I Get People To Open Up

Hi!  Welcome back!  Today I would like to explain the process of making my "Casual Conversation" pieces and the reason I decided to try.

I noticed most of the "author interviews" posted on social media had the same thing in common.  They were a list of questions and answers. Most of them even had the same questions, just in a different order.  I thought they were stiff, and actually boring. Also, when I attempted to participate in some, I found that my genre, poetry, does not do well using that format. 

I wanted to read about the person, to know how they ticked,  I wanted to know who they were so I could get a better understanding of their works.  I knew they were authors, I knew they created characters.  I wanted to know the "whys" not just the "whats".

I listened to some podcast interviews and even participated in one of those but I still felt boxed in by an agenda.  

When I started this blog, I had no idea what to write about.  So I decided to try my hand at interviews.  I would make them fresh!  I would change the way they were done!  I would...DO IT MY WAY!!!!  

I needed to decide what "My Way" would entail.  I do not use WORD at all, so I had to figure out how to interview using just text docs.  Then it came to me!  I would use a text doc and send it back and forth.  Start with an introduction and then base the questions on the previous answers!  No list to choose from, no way to know what my next question will be!

I wanted the chat to appear friendly, not stiff, so I decided to separate our remarks with color.  My questions and comments would be dark purple and the person with whom I am chatting would have their words colored in their favorite color! I then added pictures to brighten it and highlight different remarks.

I was talking to Erika Szabo and brought up my idea.  She not only thought it might be interesting, she agreed to be my guinea pig!  My first Interview was born!  https://cindysvoices.blogspot.com/2019/04/a-causual-conversation.html

 

 I posted this first interview and Eva Pasco was intrigued! She volunteered to be my second!

Thus, "Casual Conversations" was born!

My way of interviewing is a bit odd.  I send a text message with one question, you add your answer and send it back.  Then I come up with question # 2 and we go back and forth. Using this style is a bit more complicated.  However I put no time restraints on replies. 

 

Why not visit my Interview Page and see how great they are!  Then decide for yourself if this is something you would like to try!

I would like to chat with everyone...authors, readers, bloggers,promoters, cover designers, publishers, makers of swag.  I want the world to know each of you as a real person. I want your profile pic to come alive!

If you would like to chat with me,  leave me a comment and we can get started!

 

Blog:
https://cindysvoices.blogspot.com
Website:
http://carternovels.com/author-cindy-j-smith.html
Twitter: @cindysvoices
FB:  https://www.facebook.com/CindysVoices/
GOODREADS:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6505989.Cindy_J_Smith
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/cindyjsmith1/

Casual Conversation #5

A Visit with Suzi Albracht

Today I will be chatting with Suzi Albracht. Hello, I would like to begin by having you tell us all a little about yourself as a way of introduction.

Hi. I'm happy to be here. I live near Annapolis, MD right now but my boyfriend and I plan to move to North Carolina sometime late this year. Writing-wise, I started writing as a child and never stopped. For a time, I wrote screenplays and had many producers, some famous calling me at home but to be honest, it never really suited me. I returned to writing novels, and now I write Paranormal Romance/Ghost novels and Supernatural Horror Crime Thrillers. I am self-published. You can find me on Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, and Kobo, at present. I also design and create all my own covers, trailers, and photo cards.

My husband and I lived in the mountains on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina years ago, it is so beautiful! Love going back to visit my sister who still lives there.  It sounds like you are well-rounded in your writing abilities. Screenplays would be really hard to write in my opinion. I will share links to find you at the end. 

We are anxiously waiting to make the move. Last year, we made a trip down to check out the Hampstead/Topsail area and fell in love. We vacation in the OBX every year and already loved North Carolina, but the Hampstead/Topsail topped even that. Psst... don't tell the OBX people, I have fans who read my OBX series, and they are serious OBX lovers. Seriously, I just love North Carolina and could see myself living in either place.

Yes, writing screenplays is a very disciplined art, and the biggest reason I didn't like it as much is that you are basically giving the bare-bones of the story. You can write beautiful dialog, but you can't tell others involved in making the movie what to do. For instance, you can't tell the producer how to produce, the director how to act, the set designer how to design. As the screenwriter, I had to walk a fine line that choked me at times. I love being responsible for creating every little nuance of my book.

Before we really start discussing your writing, your covers are amazing.  I had no idea you created them! Which was your favorite to make? What is a photo card? And finally how do you decide what to put into a trailer?

I would say I love all my covers. Each one was a pleasure to create. It's hard to pick a favorite, but if I have to pick one, I have to choose The Devil's Lieutenant. That was a hard book to interpret into a cover. I had several different covers where it wasn't quite as perfect as I wanted. When I came up with this one, I knew immediately that cover connected to the words within. I think it is powerfully suggestive.

Photo cards are sometimes called teasers. I use them to tweet my books on Twitter and to do posts on Facebook. Sometimes I add my cover, sometimes not. On some I had short phrases, on others, the image says it all, so I simply add the title, the genre, and/or where to find the books.

For my trailers, I create a short storyline that does not include the outcome. I try to use images and music that project my story. I try to keep it tight, but my trailers are still around 3 to 3 1/2 minutes long. The main thought is to intrigue the viewer to the point where they want to know more so that they have to buy the book. My trailers tell a part of the story, and I've seen trailers by others that aren't like that so maybe I am not the norm, but I prefer my method of storytelling in my trailers. My goal was to create them to be somewhat like a movie trailer that incorporates part of the story and some of the characters. I spend a lot of time searching for the perfect background music and photos so to be honest, all my trailers are my favorite, but for this moment, I will choose The Siren of Diamond Shoals.

That trailer is amazing! Wow!  I am enticed! Your photo cards are what I refer to as book memes then, thanks for explaining.  I attempted to do "photo cards" and trailers but never have I even come close to your easy flow.  It is awesome that you offer your talents to the rest of us through Wickedly Awesome Designs. 

I loved the Devil's Lieutenant series!  That cover is intriguing! It looks different than the one I have.  The story itself is so far from the norm.  Where do you find the inspiration, the seed that blooms into these amazing worlds you create?

That cover is the latest rendition and the last (I hope). I loved each of the previous covers, but none of them fit so perfectly until I created that one. As to where my ideas come from, I am a people watcher and small tidbits collector. Sometimes, I will come across someone who sparks a flame in my mind or perhaps some strange story I read or see on television will inspire me to have a ‘what if’ thought. They light a fire in my creative process, but the end results are never like the original inspiration. For instance, on one of our vacations to Arizona, we went to a live presentation of the Gun Fight at the OK Corral in Tombstone. There was one actor who played Doc Holiday who fascinated me. There was a point in his performance where the actor slid a sideways glance to the audience. I loved that look much that I use it from time to time. I will deliberately call it up from my memory banks. And then a character will pop into my thoughts. I'll begin to ask him questions, and before long, I will find myself knee-deep in the entire story. After that, it's just a matter of putting it all on paper and fine-tuning the details. To be honest, I love my villains as much as my heroes so any of them could show up at any time. In the case of The Devil's Lieutenant, it was Carl "Thumbs" Royce who joined me in my dreams. He snickered and said, "Girl... I am the nightmare you were expecting." You know he had me at "Girl.

He would have had me at "Girl" too! I loved how your characters in the Devil's Lieutenant series, even the villains, have human frailties.  Their doubts and indecision keep them real for me. I just started your book A Love Haunting. What made you decide ghosts had to be taught to be ghosts?

That’s a great question. The answer is that every one of my ghosts in A Love Haunting died unexpectedly. They weren't expecting what happened to them. Even Maggie, Elise and Edna Jean were so caught up in grieving for their loved ones lost at sea that they lost all concept of how to go on living their lives so when they died the ladies probably didn't even notice that they were dead. In fact, in the book, when Jordan first meets Maggie and Elise, he is warned to not say anything to them about being dead because they refused to believe they were deceased. And for Jordan as well as a few others, dying made him a lost soul. He was a healer and protector in life, then when he died in the car accident, his only focus was on saving Emily. Once she was taken to the hospital by the paramedics, he was lost. I think those individuals that become ghosts rather than moving on to Heaven or eternal rest are traumatized souls, almost like small children who have to be spoon-fed bits and pieces of their new reality. So naturally, it only makes sense (to me anyway) that they have to learn how to be a ghost. Plus, even ghosts have some rules in their lives that they must follow. I think Luke does a great job of teaching with a gentle hand.

I see that this is going to be a series also.  Are the stories intertwined?  Or are each of the books actually stand-alones?

I have two series - The Devil's Due Collection and An OBX Haunting. Currently, The Devil's Due Collection consists of 3 novels, while An OBX consists of 2. I am working on the next book in each series. I am excited to share that I plan to release one at the beginning of summer and the other at the end of summer (fingers crossed). While all my books are part of a series, I do believe you can read any of them separately should you choose to do so.

I did, in fact, read the Devil's Due collection out of order. (I am a rebel that way, lol)  So I can attest to the fact those books could be stand-alones.  You have a flair for this genre.  Besides screenplays, is there any other format you would consider dipping your pen in?

I have thought long and hard about your question and have decided that I am in the place I need to be - writing novels. I was a technical writer for many years, and it was there that I fine-tuned the skills of being organized and detailed. Along the way, I dove into writing screenplays for several years and developed the ability to write a tight storyline. And when I returned to writing novels, I brought those skills with me. Now, as I weave a story into a novel, I become one with the book. It is almost as if my heart beats alongside my book’s heartbeat. I walk in my character's shoes, I carry their mantle of emotions, I am each character at times. When they feel heartache, my heart breaks. When they commit an offense against others, my soul understands their motive. I came home to writing novels, and now am where I was always meant to be.

It is obvious how connected you are to your characters, that is what makes your books such fantastic reads.  I am impressed by the fact that your books do not use sex as a selling point. Was this a conscious decision on your part? Or is it still something you might start putting in your future books?

Thanks for noticing. Some time back, I saw that a lot of people use sex in books when it doesn’t even do anything for the story. I always skip over those sex scenes unless they move the story along or explain something that I might not know otherwise. And yes, I made a conscious decision to not use sex in my books. I consider myself to be a truth teller and feel I have a multitude of other ways to weave my story, which are more intriguing and memorable. However, I don’t mind using intimacy between characters as long as it tells the reader something they need to know. For instance, in A Love Haunting, there is an intimate shower scene. I felt it was essential to express the depth of connection between Jordan and Emily. And since Jordan gets killed in a car accident right after, it needed to be immediate. Even so, I went to great lengths to ensure that I did so in a tasteful way. No unnecessary violence or sex will ever appear in my books. I much prefer leaving some things to the imagination of the reader. And that can be even more exciting since every reader will have a different opinion as to what happened. In an upcoming book, I do have one hot scene. I tried to tone it down, but the chemistry between those two characters demanded it. However, while there is a lot of kissing and touching and wild thoughts in that scene, I refrained from getting graphic in my descriptions. Besides, if you’ve read my books, you know that my imagination runs more along the lines of “let’s see if I can scare the pants off you” and “did you know that ghosts can do...”   

I agree with your assessment of sex in books.  I get so annoyed when I am reading along and suddenly there is a graphic description that has nothing to do with the story. If I wanted erotica, I would have bought erotica.  I like how you imply within your stories, lets my imagination run free.
I am also enjoy reading your books because you do not jump on the other bandwagon of using S&M in your them.  It is refreshing to read relationships based on feelings and trust. Honor and integrity seems to be a main theme of yours.
Can you give us a teaser from your upcoming book?  Is it the next installment of one of your series or something new?

I am so pleased that you noticed my deliberate choice to include positive values into my stories. My good guys are always men and women I would like to be associated with, people I can look up to. They are not perfect, but they strive to be decent human beings. Even my bad guys have some good in them that occasionally pokes out. Because I see the morals and values of the world around us deteriorating, I will always strive to write characters motivated by their love of family, church, and happiness.

On to my current writing projects, I am working on two books. The first book, The Ghost Fixer, is book three in An OBX Haunting.  I will be finishing, before summer I hope, The Ghost Fixer. And for The Devil’s Due Collection, I hope to publish book four, The Reluctant Angel of Death, sometime mid to late summer. I’ll give you a brief glimpse into each by sharing a few beginning paragraphs. These are still in draft form so please forgive any errors.

The Ghost Fixer

Since I’ve been dead, I’ve been busier than a toothless beaver gumming one of those gigantic Sequoia trees in the Redwood National Park. I’ve been assisting Luke, helping to rescue Ava and scheming to trick Moira, the Siren of Diamond Shoals. And at the same time, I’m always trying to figure out a way I can spend more time with my wife, who is still alive, so you can imagine how much work that is. If you had asked me when I was alive what it would be like to be a ghost, I would have said being a ghost would be full of fun and games. I would never have believed that being a ghost could be so exhausting. And exciting. Let’s not forget how exciting things have been for me.

After our little adventure with Moira and her dungeon, I felt drained. At the time, I was so busy working on our goal of rescuing those bones that I didn’t realize the toll on my body and mind. For days afterward, I found myself staring off into space. When I attempted to read, I had to keep reading the same paragraph over and over. Basically, I was a mess.

The others seemed no worse for the wear. In fact, T.L. and Ava seemed more animated and energized. It wore me out just to try to exchange a few words with them. T.L. was making significant progress, or so he said, on a way for Em and me to spend some time together. That was great, but listening to him explain how it was going to work made me have a huge blank space in my brain.

So, I told everyone I was taking a sabbatical from the ghost life, and by that, I meant I was taking a super long rest. Even though we ghosts don’t sleep, rests are musts if we want to have half a brain. So I went down to my closet at the hospital and threw myself on my make-shift bed, plumped up my cushions, and pulled the covers up to my chin. It felt so good…

                              ***

I awoke with a start when I felt someone’s breath on my face. Right away, I knew who it was because I could smell the grape bubblegum and that meant it could only be one person… T.L. Daniels. I blame Ava for the gum. She’s the one who told T.L. he looked like a cool dude when he chewed gum. Now, everyone knows that no one looks good chewing gum, but none of us wanted to tell T.L., so we all zipped our lips and kept quiet.

Anyway, I rubbed the sleep crumbs from my eyes and opened them up to see T.L. with his face right up to mine. We were practically eyeball to eyeball. Good lord, I could see his nose hair quivering.

“Thank goodness, you are finally awake.” T.L. got out in one gulp of air.

“What are you doing here? This is my private space. You can’t just show up here.”

A strange noise behind T.L. caught my attention. Living in a hospital closet, I was used to hearing the living going about their business out in the hall, but this sounded closer. I cranked my neck so I could see behind T.L.
And what did I see? A line of fidgeting ghosts behind him trailed out the closed door. Crap. It always shocks me when I see a bunch of ghosts in one place. That’s because ghosts who died before the 1900s look like they did when they were alive. But those who passed after 1900, for the most part, look like they did at their moment of death. Unless of course, someone educated them on how to present themselves like Luke did with me. This group was a strange mixture of both. I slid a pleasant look on my face since I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
I guess one of them saw me looking and told the others because as one, their heads swiveled toward me and they began to shout out requests. I know it was rude, but I ignored them for the moment and turned to T.L.

The Reluctant Angel of Death

I am my father’s daughter.

In the past year, tragedy has struck, and new beginnings have sprung from the ashes. You see, the people I loved the most in my life have perished and me? I am still trying to navigate my transition from Soccer Mom of the Year to the Angel of Death…

My life was always like that. I came screaming into the world on a hot Wednesday in August,  born to Edward and Isabella Romano. The moment my mother gazed upon my face, she anointed me Lilliana. My father was equally adamant that my name would be Bianca. And so a compromise was made. My birth name is Bianca Lilliana Romano.

My mother loved me with gentleness. She swaddled me with her love and made me feel safe while my father loved me with an intensity no man could equal. From birth, I knew my father would defend me with his life, he would fight the fiercest enemy to protect me. I was a loved and cherished child.

I was also raised to have morals, manners, and kindness.  I automatically knew that my very presence reflected on my parents, and I did my best to honor them. My life was full of goodness.

And then, I met my future husband, Bill Branch. He was quirky and odd, but I loved Bill with all my heart. I thought he was a gifted writer who simply needed a break so that he could show the world his talent. I felt the reason Bill kept his true feelings to himself was because of rejection he had experienced as a small child. And so, I thought that if I loved Bill with all my heart and showed him that love, he would become the man he should be.

My father saw a different Bill. He didn’t think Bill was good enough for me. He felt Bill didn’t cherish me. No, Daddy did not care for Bill at all. But because my father loved me, he gave Bill the opportunities he otherwise would not have had. And once I had given birth to my daughter, there was even more reason to turn Bill into a success. Daddy loved my daughter almost more than he loved me.

Daddy called in favors so Bill could live his dream of being a True Crime author. He created success for Bill where none had been. And my father took that generosity even further. He called in an especially lucrative favor to get Bill’s first book turned into a movie. Before long, Bill was experiencing financial success and the praise of his peers.

My life should have been complete. But Bill turned out to be someone out for himself. He took and took and then took some more. He didn’t appreciate my father’s help or my love. Our beautiful new house in the elite neighborhood and our fat bank accounts were not enough for him. Bill wanted more. More money, more influence, more fans. No matter, how much we had, it was never enough for him.

I could have overlooked Bill’s selfishness, but it soon became clear to me and everyone else that I was one of his points of discontent. Bill had “the grass is greener” syndrome.

Still, in spite of everything, I couldn’t let my marriage go. I fought to turn Bill into a good husband, father, and son-in-law. But Bill wasn’t interested in being helped. Instead, he embarked on a relationship with our eight-year-old daughter’s teacher. At that point, I finally came to a breaking point in my marriage. I could no longer turn the other cheek. Soccer Mom of the Year was sick of Dick of the Year.

I hope you enjoyed my snippets. I’m having a great time writing those books. More books are waiting for me to finish so they can have their turn. I love being an author.

OMG!!!  Those snippets are awesome!!  Write faster!!!  I will definitely be watching for both of them!  Wow!!!  I was already grateful you were willing to chat with me and now you treat me with these wonderful teasers!  Thank you!  Again, thank you for chatting with me.  I wish you the best of everything in your writing.  I am very glad you are an author!
  
Thanks, Cindy. I’ll be honest... this is the best interview I have had. Your questions are insightful and delve into a couple of topics that I think need to be talked about by other authors. You really made me ponder before I responded. Thank you. Seriously, I got a little misty when it was over because it was so much fun.
I hope your readers enjoy the interview and are intrigued enough to check out my books. Speaking of my books, I think now would be a good time to share links. I love interacting with my readers and am open to questions and discussions about my work. Thanks for everything, Cindy. And thanks to your readers who now know my inner thoughts.

My Social Media Links:
 
My Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/SuziAlbracht

My handles on Twitter and Instagram are the same: @SuziAlbracht 

My pre-designed book cover service is Wickedly Awesome Designs:  
https://www.facebook.com/groups/186538375480115/
 
My author link at Amazon is: author.to/SuziAlbracht
 
A Love Haunting: A Ghost’s Story of Forever Love
Books2read.com/ALoveHaunting
YouTube: http://bit.ly/LoveHaunting

The Siren of Diamond Shoals: A Ghost’s Rescue Mission
Books2read.com/TheSirenofDiamondShoals
YouTube: http://bit.ly/Siren_DiamondShoals

Death Most Wicked: A Cop’s Murderous Father’s Torment
Books2read.com/DeathMostWicked
YouTube: http://bit.ly/deathmostwicked

The Devil’s Lieutenant: A Cop’s Harrowing Plunge into the Underworld
Books2read.com/TheDevilsLieutenant
YouTube: http://bit.ly/TheDevilsLt

Scorn Kills:  A Twisted Novel of Dark Obsession
Books2read.com/ScornKills
YouTube: http://bit.ly/Scorn_Kills

Casual Conversation #4

Visiting with Julie Elizabeth Powell

Today I am chatting with Julie Elizabeth Powell.  Hi Julie and welcome.  Can you share a little about yourself?

 Hello, thanks for the chat!
My pen name is Julie Elizabeth Powell and I have written numerous stories in a variety of genres, although, I prefer fantasy because I can make it up - I just love the imagination and where it takes me.
I live in England, my favourite colour is purple, though, fushia pink is a close second.  I love to read, write and create 3D art and cards.  I love to draw, paint and design my own book covers.

Another talented author who creates their own covers.  I can dream up what I would like but that is where my cover creating abilities end.  How do you come up with your designs?  Do the stories come first and inspire them or visa-versa?   

Original

New

 Usually, the cover comes after I’ve written the story.  There are times when I see an image and it triggers my imagination to write a story so then I use that image.
Oh dear, it’s like choosing a favourite child.  My first book was Gone, a fantasy that was inspired by what happened to my daughter, Samantha, when she was two, her heart stopped and she died.  She was revived too late and thus severely brain damaged so that she didn’t know me or anything else – she had gone only leaving a shell.  I was haunted by a question: If Samantha wasn’t ‘here’ then were was she?  Her essence had flown, where was it?
So then, I wrote Gone and went in search of her.  This will always be my most important book, therefore, this cover has to be number one (although, it’s not the original as I did change it a couple of years back).

I read Gone, actually I just finished rereading it.  Such a poignant story. My daughter passed away 11 years ago and I am still plagued with the "if onlys" just like Charley. You share so much of yourself.  You remind all of us in this boat that we must live.  Personally I find it hard to do, but with the message from you, I am working on it.  How about you?  Did the writing of this work help you heal, or is it still an ongoing process?

Samantha's Story

I’m sorry for your loss and if my story helps then I’m glad – for others, too.  No, I will never heal, but writing Gone forced me to face those tangled feelings.  The pain is just as harsh now, many years later, as it was when it first happened.  Samantha ‘existed’ for seventeen years, her empty shell becoming more and more filled with pain and twisting.  She didn’t know me or anything else. 
Guilt is a terrible thing, but even though I still feel it, part of me knows that the decisions I had to make were really the only ones, despite some people cursing me for them.
I’d love to think that Avalon is real and that one day, I will see Samantha again.
I think that Gone is an inspiring read, not depressing.  It left me with a sense of hope – whether that is a good or bad thing, I’m not always sure.  Writing Gone was the best thing I could do.
FYI – on the day the first paperback versions of Gone were delivered, I piled them onto a table and left the room.  When I came back in, there was a small, pure, white feather sitting in the middle on top of the pile and I wondered if that was a sign that Samantha approved.  White feathers have unexpectedly fallen towards me since she died a second and final time at the age of nineteen.
Time can help with the coping mechanisms of such grief and helplessness, but  such things never cease – it is an ongoing process but I do try to focus on other things, such as writing and reading and creating (whatever I can).


White feathers, how beautiful!  I felt my daughter's presence when Voices first came out.  Recently I completed the set dedicated for her.  It was supposed to be 3 books but I felt her nudge and made it 4 and the first time I saw Erika's cover for the box set, I felt an all encompassing warmth surround me, like she was approving.  
I find death and dealing with survivor's guilt touches a lot of my poems. Your book gives me hope, a new vision of what could be in the future. 
I am currently reading your book Changing Angels.  I like how you seamlessly change points of view.  It blends well.  Do you believe in Guardian Angels? 

I think words in any form can be emotive, especially if they touch the reader deeply and resonate with personal experience.  I’ve written a little poetry but stories are my preference.  Those tangled emotions of grief can be all-encompassing and sometimes finding words can ease the pain, if not erase it.  Thank you for saying that Gone gives you hope.
Changing Angels was inspired by true events; however, my imagination allowed me dramatic licence to pepper it with tension and suspense.  It’s a romance, drama, crime thriller with a touch of fantasy (I not only like to write various genres, I also like to mix them in one story).
Thank you for your kind words about Changing Angels.  
It needed to have two points of view and I think it works.
I don’t know if Guardian Angels exist, but it’s a lovely thought.  I can’t deny that I see the white feathers and sometimes feel a tap on my shoulder or a nudge in my side from what appears to be an invisible source.
My husband has always said that he must have a Guardian Angel because his life has been a tough one and he feels he wouldn’t have survived without some seemingly ‘otherworldly’ intervention.  I’ve always believed that if I had one, it wasn’t doing a very good job – my husband, therefore, said that his would look after me.  Who knows?

I, like you, believe they exist! Like your husband says, it explains how I have survived as much as I have.
I haven't read your Avalon Trilogy yet.  According to the blurb it is a fantasy but it does not have angels.  How did you come up with this new world?  Did the journey of your characters take unexpected twists while you were writing?
 

After I’d written Gone, I loved the world I’d created and couldn’t let it go to waste, so I began writing The Star Realm – one of the worlds inside the Orb of Caprice, where Charley had her adventure.  I included The Time Keeper and some others, such as Chamber (grumpy of Puzzle Woods) and it grew and grew and grew until I had to divide the story into three.
Invasion (#2 #Avalon Trilogy) takes place in one of the Below Words, the Dark Reaches, while Secrets Of The Ice (#3 Avalon Trilogy) is set in the Dominion Of Ice, yet another world within the Orb of Caprice – that heptagonal orb that is built from numerous (and ever-adding) worlds created throughout Time and the imagination.
Charley Woods is in The Star Realm in the beginning so as to make some sense to the five children as to what is going on.
So then, the trilogy takes place in three worlds within the Orb of Caprice, its host being Avalon (where resides The Time Keeper, The Star Council and Waiting Room Only, and let’s not forget the Freeway and Fun and Games etc.)  Nevertheless, there is potential for further stories, if and when I ever have time.
It’s an epic quest with five friends who encounter all manner of strangeness, creatures and characters, including talking flowers, fairies and yes, even angels, but maybe not in the way you would think.  I made up many of the creatures involved.  It’s a mystery adventure with secrets that are not revealed until the very end.
As with all my stories, the characters take over and drive me into unexpected corners and then I have to figure out how to move forward.
I like all my stories to have meaning, and The Avalon Trilogy does include important lessons – without the lectures!   It does have humour and, I hope, insight into younger minds, who maybe forget that we were all young once.
The Star Realm, Invasion and Secrets Of The Ice are also now audiobooks.

It sounds fantastic!  I did not realize it would return me to the wonderful world from Gone. Everytime I see the name Avalon, I think of my high school yearbook.  Memory Lane sometimes creates havoc with the observation process. I am glad it is on my TBR list!  I like books that teach without preaching.  I want to read things with substance. 

I remember when I was a child and I loved stories to be read to me.  I’d also listen to the wireless (as it was called then) to Listen With Mother, where short stories were told – wonderful.
Thank you for reading my books!  Reviews are always welcome (have to try) LOL.  Having said that, Amazon is being rather mean about who can post them.  I’m a reviewer, too, so I post where I can – Amazon UK, USA, Goodreads, BookBub and my review page on Facebook.  At least BookBub and Goodreads allow any review from anyone...at the moment.  The reviews for my books can vanish and I have no idea why...never mind, that’s life.


I know how important reviews are and I will leave them on Goodreads soon and then share them on FB, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  I am not allowed to leave any on Amazon. 
You said this series is now available in audio.  What is your personal opinion of this new format?

I think the format is great for those who prefer to listen or don’t have time to read or are in the car /travelling.  Perhaps the cost is rather high but it depends on what you like most.  I always have promo codes if anyone is interested.
It takes a long time to produce an audiobook – especially when it’s an epic like the three books in The Avalon Trilogy.  I was lucky enough to find a brilliant narrator who was more interested in a good story than whether I was famous or not.  Over twenty of my stories are audiobooks now.  It’s also a great way of finding those embarrassing errors (if not all).  Dratted gremlins are everywhere!
I like all formats for books; it depends on where I am.  I prefer a ‘real’ book in my hands, but I don’t have time to read that way often, so find myself reading my Kindle late at night, with the light off so as not to disturb hubby and am grateful for the backlight that comes with the Paperwhite.  Audiobooks can help relaxation, too, of course, it depends on the subject.

I am in the process of having one of my poetry books put into audio.  I am still not sure how I feel about it.  A novel or story flows but poems are like separate books, in my opinion.  I would rather it be like a music CD where people could jump around to whatever poem they wished to hear at that moment, not be forced to listen to them in the order my hat decided they should be put into.  We will see.   
I love real books but I do use a Kindle also.  I can carry a lot more books with me in the truck using that!
What do you feel is the hardest part of being an author?

Trying to attract buyers to my work is not easy, especially when I have no money for marketing.  I promote where and when I can.  I give away promo codes for audiobooks, two of my books are free, including The Star Realm (Kindle edition) and the first ‘episode’ of my Weird series.  As for the rest, they are 99p, except for the omnibus editions, which are also at a bargain price.  Paperbacks are available on Lulu – this was the first place I found where I could publish, although it is easier to publish ebooks on Kindle.
There is argument about prices but I find my only way is to make my books as inexpensive as I can and hope folks love them and maybe then I’ll be able to charge a little more for my years of work.  There is no choice with audiobooks, Audible /Amazon set the price.

I agree. Marketing is the hardest.  All of us have our own views on pricing and what works.  Personally, I have not found anything that works. If I ever do, I will gladly shout it from the rooftops.

You mention your "Weird" series, what is that about?  How many episodes are available?

No, I haven’t found anything that works : Yes, please, let me know if there is a secret not yet found.  I sell very few books and even less reviews are posted.  That said, I believe in my work and think it is brilliant – so there!!! LOL  I have tried writing poetry and I’m pleased with what I’ve done.  The most interesting one I did was a Ballad Poem where it is a story in poetry form.  It was fun.

I think Kindle is a wonderful tool.

Henry Ian Darling (the star of Weird) came to me in a dream and told me that I must write about him in a series of missives.  So then, Weird: A Henry Ian Darling Oddity: Missive One was created.  It’s a paranormal series, some are longer than others; there are five available so far.  I’m in the process of writing number six but keep being waylaid with life and other ideas for stories.  Summer is almost here so the garden is insisting it has too many weeds – I’ve been out there today, actually (ouch). 
I love fantasy and all its derivatives, including paranormal, horror, science-fiction etc. – these genres all have a mystical sense about them and are such fun to write.  Ian Henry Darling is six feet (he lost half an inch when he came back from the dead), in his late fifties and thinks he’s ugly with a paunch.  His wife, Clara, is a witch – his first wife died.  He has a resident ghost and continually finds /given oddities which he must investigate... I really don’t know where it’s going because Henry leads the way.  Weird #1 is free.  The first three missives are audiobooks.


I have written a poem or two, lol.  I am glad you have such a beautiful attitude toward your talent!  Although I love my work, I am still amazed when anyone else says it is good.  
Weird sounds so interesting, the first book is on its way to my kindle!
Last summer I had retired and was able to have a garden.  It is the one thing I missed out on while driving over-the-road.  I enjoy canning and having garden vegetables all winter long!  Do you have a large garden?  vegetable or flower or both?

Yes, I am always amazed when others like my work, despite my belief in it.  I used to wonder if it was good enough then thought, yes, it is...especially as I read a vast amount and can see what is good and what is not.  Sometimes, it is difficult to keep on believing due to the fact that I can’t sell my work but it’s important to me.

The garden at the front of the house has three small lawns and some flowerbeds.  There’s also a small vegetable plot where I mainly grow tomatoes then turn them into pasta sauce and freeze; great taste of summer for those winter months.

The back garden has an Oriental theme, created with Samantha in mind.  I had made another one but had to leave it when I moved (my life changed for the better – divorce then remarry amongst other things).  So, I had to begin all over again with the garden.  It’s very peaceful.  Keeping it all in check is fabulous exercise.
My favourite flowers are roses, so there is a spread of those, and I love acers and other Oriental plants; plenty of those.  The front garden has a hedge of lavender; gorgeous aroma.

Oh, I hope you enjoy Henry Ian Darling!

Your gardens sound like paradise. My favorite flower is jasmine, but since I left Florida I find it hard to keep alive.  I tried having a rose garden, I actually had 15 different varieties, but the fog every morning kept giving them fungi so I had to pull them up.

I just finished Changing Angels, it was awesome, and ending I did not expect.  I am sure I will enjoy more of your works.

If you had a chance to do it over again, would you have become an author?

 I’ve always enjoyed stories.  As a child I loved anything to do with magic – though Hansel and Gretel terrified me.
 
Over the years, I’ve dabbled with words but when that question over Samantha haunted me, I knew that I’d have to write the story – Gone.  It’s filled with all manner of my experiences and loves and hates, tension, loss, grief, inspiration and hope, and I think that sprinkle of humour shows my weirdness in what I think is funny.  People look at me sometimes and wonder if I’m sane – how can I answer that?

Yes, I would have become an author and it took that tragic event to push me into something serious.  Over the last twenty-odd years I’ve battled numerous things and depression is an enemy that’s difficult to conquer, however, writing, my husband, my two surviving children, stepchildren and other family members keep me sort of sane.  I will never overcome the catastrophe of Samantha’s life, and I know I’m broken, but I continue to look into the mystery of the world that surrounds us and wonder at the majesty of it.  I do not believe in God, although, I am convinced of something ‘other’ than us and our brains have only to one day discover it.  I have no idea what that might be.  Through writing I may find it.

I love your logo, it is beautiful.  I know a lot of authors are getting them lately.  Did you design it?  Also what one thing in it screams "This is ME" at you the loudest?

Thank you!  Yes, I designed it.  One of my favourite things to do is design my book covers.  The one thing that screams at me from my logo is STORYTELLER.


Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me.  I have had a great time.

Thank you very much for taking the time to talk to me, Cindy, it’s been a pleasure.  I hope you continue to enjoy my work.  I like to challenge my writing, fill it with meaning and create twists, turns and surprises.


If folks want to contact me or are interested in my work, here are some links:

Website - http://julizpow.wix.com/julieelizabethpowell
Amazon USA page - http://goo.gl/cT0DCK
Amazon UK page - http://goo.gl/XK8TOj
LULU - http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/julizpow
GOODREADS - https://goo.gl/DcTSOO
BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julie-elizabeth-powell
FB page 1 - https://www.facebook.com/julieelizabethpowellsbooks
FB page 2 - https://www.facebook.com/GoneByJulieElizabethPowell
Twitter - https://twitter.com/starjewelz